Kaieteur News

Syrian Civil Defense workers and security forces search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings after a devastating earthquake rocked Syria and Turkey, in Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. For years, the people of Aleppo bore the brunt of bombardment and fighting when their city, once Syria's largest and most cosmopolitan, was one of the civil war's fiercest battle zones. Even that didn't prepare them for the new devastation and terror wreaked by this week's earthquake. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki photo)

Gas-to-Energy Projects…

All contracts must have room for renegotiation to avoid debt traps

If deals not made public, ask Govt. why? – Int'l Group warns

Fo r c o u n t r i e s blessed with significant natural gas reserves, capturing those resources for use via gas-toenergy projects are often times, an obvious option for consideration But the manner in which contracts governing these projects are framed can have dire economicconsequences.

D r a w i n g o n t h e experiences of other nations, the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has produced a framework to help nations and their citizens ask critical questions that would lead to the right decisions for these multi-billiondollarventures.

NRGI has been regarded f o r d e c a d e s a s a n independent, non-profit organization that supports informed, inclusive decision-making about natural resources and the energy transition It has provided advice to Guyana on several occasions on how itoughttoprudentlydevelop its oil and gas resources in theStabroekBlock.

NRGI's framework, published in September 2022, cautions that betting big on gas comes with serious risks and tradeoffs, especially as the world moves away from fossil fuels. It said, “Hasty, illinformed decisions today could carry hidden costs f o r a c o u n t r y ' s development prospects, energy costs and security, and climate, especially if it

ends up locked into a dirty, outdated and high-priced domesticenergysystem.”

NRGI noted that often times, fuel supply and transport deals for gas projects are subject to very little public scrutiny; terms frequently are not publicly available.

It said, “Governments may not have the bargaining power or favorable investment environments needed to avoid all contract terms that risk lock-in. But interested stakeholders should ask whether the public utilities, ministries or other bodies handling the negotiations are doing all they can to minimize the risks.”

In light of this, it said citizens must ask if contracts for gas projects are armed with a renegotiation clause for the transportation of gas. NRGI reasoned that this ensures the government has enough leverage to adjust deals when necessary and avoid being trapped into taking or paying for gas, no matter the circumstance This word of advice is premised on the case of Ghana.

The African state was gripped by crippling debt afteritwasforcedtotakegas and pay for it even though it didn'tneedit.

Given these risks, NRGI said nations with gas ambitions must structure arrangements that balance risks fairly In terms of contract language, it said the

government can for example; negotiate to pay lowerpricesforthepoweror gasitdoesn'ttake.

Italsosaidcontractterms should be made public. If they aren't, NRGI said citizensmustaskwhynot.

Below is list of other key questionsNRGIsaidcitizens can ask to better understand their country's level of preparedness for the risks thatlieahead.

1.Arethegovernment's supply and demand projections for gas and electricitycredible?

2. Do the plans use modeling or scenariobasedanalysistoshowhow the role of gas in the electricity mix will change overtime?

3.Dotheplanssetdates for decommissioning or retiringgasplants?

4. Who supports and opposes the plans, and why?

5. When and why were the plans announced? For instance, were they

CJIA records 32% increase in passenger arrivals

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) has recorded a 32% increase in passenger arrivals for January 2023comparedtothepreviousyear

During the month of January, the airport processed 25,005 arriving passengers compared to 18,874 in 2022, CJIA said in a release. The country's main port of entry continues to experience significant increases in passenger arrivals since the CricketCarnivalinSeptember2022.

Meanwhile, there was a 45% increase in cargo processed during January 2023 compared to 2022. The 738 tonnes of cargo processed in January 2023 comprised mostly agricultural products, perishable goods, industrialsuppliesandpersonaleffects.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, said these increases reflect the

transformational work being undertaken by the PPPC Government under the visionary leadership of President Irfaan Ali. The influx of visitors and investors coming to Guyana is attributed to the massive growth in housing, tourism, transportation and agriculturalsectors.

The Minister further noted that Guyana is well on its way to achieving one million arrivals by 2025, as predicted by President IrfaanAli.

In anticipation of continued growth, the Government is looking to expand and further increase the capacity at the Cheddi Jagan InternationalAirport. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo recently announced Government's plan to modernise and strengthen security measures at airports by introducing a new electronicpassportsystem.

developed after a process of study and consultation, or rolled out quickly around a major political event like a scandal, economic crisis, or election?

6. Do the plans clearly articulate why gas is the best fuel for electricity generation e g , due to cost, ability to meet rising demand? Or do they start with the premise that the country has reserves and they should be harnessed forpowergeneration?

7 Is the technology more likely to help or h i n d e r a s h i f t t o renewables?

8. Are there plans to update or repair the grid? How much will these cost, who will pay, and what is thestatus?

9.Doesthesupplychain include state-owned companies with deep technical, commercial or politicalproblems?

10. H a s a n y o n e modeled the project's

emissions? What were the results?

11. Do the emissions figures for the project include methane leaks across its supply chain? How high would the leaks be?

12. Could the project endupflaringgas?NOTE: If the government gets the project's supply and demand estimates wrong, or the project starts producing gas before customers are ready to use it, its operators might have to flare gas while they are waiting.

GUYANA'S GAS AMBITION

Guyanese authorities have said the nation's first gas-to-energy project is scheduledtocomeonstream by2024.

It will transport natural gas from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block to the Wales Development Zone, where two main onshore plants are tobebuilt.

US-based partnership

CH4/Lindsayca won the contract to construct the 300 megawatts (MW) combined cycle power plant and natural gas liquids (NGL) facility Itisdoingsoatacost ofUS$898million.

As for the construction of the pipeline for which ExxonMobil is responsible, this is expected to cost upward of US$1.3 billion. The current estimate for the projectismorethanUS$2B.

Engineers India Limited w i l l s u p e r v i s e t h e Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the onshore plant facility. It is expected to hire another formtooperatetheproject.

Citizens in various quarterscontinuetoquestion the government about the e c o n o m i c a n d environmental soundness of theproject.

Unsatisfied with the administration's response, the political opposition recently approached parliament to have all documentslaidforscrutiny

The Opposition said it remains unconvinced that the project is being done in the nation's interests when key documents are yet to be madepublic.

G o v e r n m e n t h a s maintained that it is leaning on key experts from around the world to execute the project.

It has, up to press time, not responded to the Opposition's request for contract disclosure nor has it issuedaformalresponse.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

A FOUR-YEAR AUDIT

It is four years later and Guyana is unable to get an audit fully done for US$460M. Using this as a benchmark, it should not surprise that the huge US$7.3B audit of ExxonMobil’s expenses has repeatedly goneoverpromiseddeliverytimes.Ifwecannotcompletea relativelymuchsmallerauditdoneinsuchalongtime,then thereissometroublefiguringoutwhatisitthatGuyanesecan expectfromanauditthatis15timeslarger,giventhebillions ofexpensedollarsatstake.

In 2019, an audit of US$460M in pre-contract costs incurred by ExxonMobil was started by UK-based IHS Markit. Four years later, the Hon. Minister of Natural Resources,Mr VickramBharrat,saidthattherewasbackand forth between Guyana and ExxonMobil, which held things up.Itisanormaloccurrenceinaudits,onewhereallparties want to have questions answered, and issues cleared, in a reciprocally satisfactory manner The latest from the Government is that “a final report has now been submitted and is being reviewed by all the relevant agencies (and) stakeholders” and “once that is over, we will conclude the first audit hopefully very soon” (“Exxon US$460M precontractauditstillongoing-MinisterBharrat”,KNFebruary 6).

We appreciate Minister Bharrat’s clearing the air, and learning that the actual audit work is, in fact, finished. But four years to audit US$460Mof costs (or anything) is too long, even with allowance made for Guyana’s own review process of the completed audit. Commonsense questions arise. Whatcouldbethecauseofsuchlengthybottlenecks, wherethisauditseemstohavejustfrozentodeath? Second, whatisresponsible(likelyhuge)forthedelaysinresponding byExxonMobil? Third,whyisExxonMobil,amajorparty, tothis‘smaller’auditdraggingitsfeet,stonewalling,andin one way or another holding up the process and finished product? Thisisnothelpful,notcomforting. Still,Minister Bharratsaidthatourreviewofthecompletedauditshouldbe “hopefullyverysoon.”

WithrespecttoMinisterBharrat,“hopefully”soundslike anexerciseinwishfulthinking,anddoesnotinstillthekindof confidence that should be after this four year wait. Also, “verysoon”againcomesacrossasgropinginthedark,where thisauditisconcerned,andputtingabrightsmileonmatters. OurownAuditOfficehasbeenabletocommence,complete, and compile audit reports within a much shorter period of timeforexpensesinvolvingbillionsofdollars. Admittedly, thoseareusuallyinGuyanadollars,andinthescrutinizingof itemsthataremorefamiliartolocals,dealtwithonanalmost repeating basis. On the other hand, the US$460M precontract costs of ExxonMobil and its partners possibly included many components that may be unknown to our reviewers (the GRA, among others), requiring more time to wrapourarmsaroundtheworkdonebyIHSMarkit.

Of note, however, is the statement by Opposition MP, DavidPatterson,thattheIHSMarkitauditreportwassentby theGuyanaGovernmenttoExxonMobilsincelastyearforits comments,andthecompanyhasnotrespondedsince. Whyis thisso,allowedtostand? WhatisitthatGuyanahasflagged for inclusion in the audit report, but which professional standards dictate must be shared with ExxonMobil for its comments?

For ExxonMobil to hold this up like this should not be pleasing to the PPPC Government. It certainly is looked upon most unfavorably by us, and should be, too, by all Guyanese.Wemustallwantthebestvalueforourhundreds of millions that ExxonMobil said it spent, and the company should not want anything but that, plus clearance to be paid fromouroilrevenues.

This is becoming to look like a trend with ExxonMobil doingasitpleases,seekingtorundisdainfullyalloverthisillequipped,weak,unreadynation. Wewantatrustedpartner, onethatisresponsivetoauditreportsthatmayhaveelements that sharply question ExxonMobil’s spending, pushes back onitsmult-imilliondollarpre-contractcosts.

Weareasovereignnation,andExxonMobileitherworks with us to its advantage, or plays these delaying games that exposesthecompanyforwhatitis.

PPP bent on dominating and controlling GECOM

DEAREDITOR,

Over one week ago, CommissionerRoheesought to respond to my letter of January 22, 2023. In that letter, I exposed the contrived acts that that PPP andtheircohortsatGECOM have being perpetrating in theirconcertedefforttotake control of GECOM in the manner in which they have gone about trying to dominate and control every aspectoflifeinGuyana.

Rohee in his response claimed my repudiation of his attempt to hoodwink the public about the legitimacy ofthecreationandfillingofa position at GECOM is “not only misinformed, but woefully misplaced”. The

Chairperson has since decided to rescind both the c r e a t i o n a n d t h e appointment.

Of course, in typical Roheestylenoevidencewas provided, and for that I commend him since no evidence is available and he seemed not to wish to descend to the tactics of backbencher Kumar, who in arecentletterunsuccessfully resorted to the art of fiction inhisattempttodiscreditme. He attempted to conjure metaphors as the basis of discrediting me with the hope of distracting the public`s attention from my cogent exposure of the schemethatisbeingpursued by him and his ilk at

GECOM This delayed response is as a result of the timeandeffortthatittookme trying to make sense out of whateventuallyIcouldonly describe as a nonsensical response Here are the reasonsforthatconclusion.

1. I concede that nine yearsago,Ididnotobjectto the shortlisting of Mr PersaudforthejobofDCEO. For Rohee‘s information, shortlisting is prima facie Aninterviewisinterrogative and may unearth that which was not evident on the surface.

Inthatstandardapproach totherecruitmentprocess,in theinterview(interrogation), my attention was drawn to information that informed

the conclusion that Mr Persaud did not meet the academic requirement for the job. He was not certified at the level of a first degree. May I repeat for the public, sinceRoheeandhisilkhave buriedtheirheadinthesand on this matter, the basis on which I objected to Mr Persaud‘s appointment was notamatterbeforethecourt. IhavesaidbeforethatInever accused Mr Persaud of contriving, but I maintained that the appointment was contrived. Rohee‘s claim of mebeingahypocriteiseither imaginary or contrived Much of what Rohee claims in his letter is as if he was standinginfrontofamirror

(Continuedonpage6)

DEAREDITOR,

I read with interest an article written about Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton by political c o m m e n t a t o r a n d International pollster, Vishnu Bisram. It was a detailed and well written missive which in essence was an appraisal of the Leader of The Opposition. I finditamusingattimesatthe way Bisram respectfully critiquedtheguy,Iwouldnot have been so kind, but I respectfully concur with the commentator

DEAREDITOR,

In a recent article in Development Today and a ‘fact sheet’published by the government, officials in our government and at theARTTREES Secretariat made some claims about my commentsinmylastletterto the editor Here are some of their assertions, and my responses:

First, Christina Magerkuth at the ART Secretariat said that “the NTCunanimouslyapproved the resolution endorsing the LCDS and the benefit sharing arrangement outlinedinthedocument.” Frankly,itdoesn’tmatter whether this claim is true or not. What ART-TREES and other proponents of the recentcarboncreditapproval and sale seem to refuse to understand is that the NTC

For a man who happens tobeeducated,Nortonnever impressed anyone let alone thepeopleheclaimstolead. Hewasandisarabblerouser whom the opposition can rely on to find a storygettingitwrongofcourse-in PNC style artfully set it on fire, and fan the flames to fury!

A leader such as this is boundtofail,eveninthebest of times. He has to come up with something better than that. In this regard he is fodder in the hands of a Jagdeo or greater still an

hasnoauthorityto“endorse” planslikethisonbehalfofall of Guyana’s indigenous peoples.Themostthatcanbe said is that the handful of Toshaos who signed the resolution expressed their personalapprovaloftheplan as a function of their role—stated clearly in the AmerindianAct—to provide advice tothe Minister of Amerindian Affairs on policies that affect our peoples. The gap between “provide advice” and “legallyendorse”iswide.

In the government’s publication,theyarguedthat the NTC’s statutory functions to “coordinate and integratetheactivitiesofthe villages on a national basis” and “to prepare strategies and plans for the protection, conservationandsustainable managementofvillagelands

eruditeNandlall.Simplyput, Nortonisasourfool.

Now, tracing his history fromHoyte,weseehimasa lone ranger, nobody wanted him around them Successive leadership in Corbin, then Granger, nobody thought highly of thisdenizenofthePNC.

Hewasinnoman’sland, thatis,upuntilthelastparty election when only 30% of the electorate turned up to votehimin.

The information provided in the preceding paragraphspeaksvolumesof

and natural resources”

somehowvesttheNTCwith authority to represent all of ourindigenouscommunities in this matter What is missing from these p r o v i s i o n s a b o u t coordinating, integrating, and preparing in section 41 of the Amerindian Act is decision-making authority

Under section 34 of the Amerindian Act, only the Village, by the method of a Villagegeneralmeeting,can takedecisionsforitself.And under international human rights law, that authority rests with the chosen representativeinstitutionsof indigenous peoples In Guyana, that has never been theNTC.

I can think of a few reasonswhynon-indigenous peopleandorganizationsare resistant to this fact. On the

the man, so I need not say more.Ofthegroupchosenas his successor, one can be immediately counted out, she having to face multiple chargesforherroleinthelast generalelection. I cannot see how that partycanfeelsafewithsuch an individual leading them.

So, the PNC is in a tumultuous abyss, how they canfindtheirwayoutofitno one knows. Let us keep t r a c k i n g t h e s e developments.

Respectfullysubmitted, NeilAdams

government’s side, an NTC that is pliable and manipulable allows the government to portray an image that they respect the rights of indigenous peoples on the international stage. On ART’s side, their reputation depends upon the success of Guyana’s jurisdictionalcarboncredits. Guyanaisthefirstcountryto have credits approved by ART, and if ART were to admit that their “highintegrity”creditswerenotso high-integrity after all, ART’s relevance in the burgeoning carbon credits scene would be in serious question.

ARTisfullyawareofthis situation: the report created by Aster Global, the carbon credit verification body, statesthat“because (Continuedonpage6)

Norton is not the man to lead the PNC, one contender could immediately be ruled out

Carbon credits: for indigenous peoples, it is culture, identify, and way of life, not money

Morning traffic on the West Bank of DemeraraPublic Road between Schoonord Road and the Harbour Bridge junction remains chaotic

DEAREDITOR, I write this letter as a follow up to one I did recently regarding the overbearing traffic situation on the West Bank of Demerara in the mornings titled: ‘An urgent solution to the morning traffic chaos on the West Bank of Demerara is needed,’ published on February 2, 2023. Sadly, not much has been done by the Guyana Police Force’s Region 3

TrafficDivisiontoarrestthe situation.

Senior officers at the harbour bridge junction become irate with drivers wishing to proceed south on the West Bank Demerara PublicRoadinthemornings. Itseemsas iftheWestBank Demerara Public Road from Schoonord to the harbour bridge junction is the exclusivepurviewofdrivers wishingtocrossthebridgein themornings,andasaresult,

anyone not crossing the harbourbridgemustsufferat the hands of some of the mostunscrupulousdrivers.

Since the Guyana Police Force seem incapable of efficiently and effectively managing this untenable traffic situation, I will suggest a possible solution thattheycanimplement.

In a consistent manner fromMondaytoFridaythere must be a sensible police presence along the West

BankDemeraraPublicRoad between Schoonord and the Harbour Bridge, to ensure that drivers not crossing the bridgehaveroomontheroad to do so safely – that also means drivers proceeding north along the same road. Misguided police officers must not force drivers proceeding south on the West Bank Public Road approaching the harbour bridgejunctiontojoinalong line of cars turning to go on

Farewell Snr.Supt Cooper, a Good Police Officer, a brother

DEAREDITOR,

We share the pain of the p a s s i n g o f S n r Superintendent Edmond Cooper, a fine Officer, well trained and driven by the lofty principles of a good PoliceOfficer

The news of the sad passingandexpectedfuneral service on Friday February

DEAREDITOR,

It is sad to see Kaieteur News edition of BLUNT on Monday, where you highlighted the lawlessness in Buxton but did not mention a word about residents breaking the law, robbing and assaulting a truck driver, burning his truck, destroying the road and restricting the flow of traffic.Insteadofchoosingto speak out against the blatant

10,2023comes inthewake of a strong statement from theActing Commissioner of Police telling citizens that there will be zero-tolerance iftheyprotest.

ThisIbelieveisthesame police high command that requested the late Cooper to usebulletsagainstprotesters in West Berbice. You know

hooliganismwe’veseentime and again erupting out of these enclaves, you are endorsing and encouraging it.Alloftheoilwealthinthe world will not change the mentalityofthesethugswho only show themselves when thereisopportunitytocreate mischiefandmayhem.

Nothing good can come fromthepathyou’vechosen.

Yourstruly, DennisBalgobin

the rest of the story He was removed from that command. Editor, let us use thepassingofCooperandhis funeral service to tell every member of the Police Force that their Motto is service and protection. But what is the police high command talking about? Protest by citizens has resulted in changeforthebetter,asthey sought to resist the brutality of the police and other enforcement agencies from time immemorial. History is full of such examples. The

best known for us is the Netherlands-1585, England1642, America-1776, Russia-1905etc.Letushope thataswesayfarewelltoour brother that we have an administration that recognizes the right of citizens to speak up and protest when they perceive wrongthingsarebeingdone.

Yoursfaithfully,

EricMoseley,MS

thebridge.

If simple common sense prevailsthissituationcanbe rectified with alacrity

PoliceareplacedontheWest

Bank Public from Schoonord Road heading northandthelawlessnesson that side of the road has stopped.

So,thesolutionthatIam recommending is already beingtriedatanotherpartof theroad.

I just hope those in c h a r g e o f t r a f f i c management on the west side think harder and come upwithasensiblesolutionto the morning anarchy that currentlyexists.

Theremustbeafreelane

for drivers proceeding south and north along the West BankPublicRoad. Traffic ranks must be sensibleenoughtoknowthis and ensure that enough lane space is free at all times. Drivers wishing to cross the Harbour Bridge must maintain discipline on the roadways or be disciplined accordinglybythepolice.

For far too long the trafficranksonthewesthave allowed this situation to developandgetoutofhand. Itistimesomeleveloforder is restored to the morning commuteonthewestbankof Demerara.

Yoursfaithfully, Frustrateddriver

Lawlessness highlighted in part only

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.

Carbon credits: for indigenous peoples, it is culture, identify, and way of...

Frompage4 endorsementoftheNational Toshaos Council for the LCDS 2030 is a key consideration used in

substantiating the Participant’s rights to manage and administer [emission reductions] to be issued by ART that are

derived from titled and untitled Amerindian land, any changes to this endorsementbytheNational Toshaos Council would

PPP bent on dominating and...

Frompage4

labelling the image “Alexander”.

2 Having kerfuffled himself in the opening paragraphs of his letter, Rohee goes on in his confused state of mind to determine what to say through a me-riddle-meriddle-me-ree process,inhis thirdparagraph.Whatunfair advantageisRoheespeaking about? In no instance, when Mr Persaud competed for a job, was another applicant a p p o i n t e d t o t h e approximate position in an effort to give him or her the experience required for the position If perchance Rohee is referring to the circumstance in which Mr Giddings finds himself, it should be noted that Mr Giddings was appointed to

an illicitly created position – Operations Coordinator, which approximates to the oneforwhichhehasapplied –Deputy Chief Elections Officer- and for which he does not presently have the required experience. There is no such precedent that Rohee can identify In other writings,Ihaveexposedthe PPP‘s lip service to good governance. I refuse to pay attention to Rohee‘s hogwash about elements of good governance about whichheandhisilkseemto know little about; do not apply;andtowhichtheyare notcommitted,evenasthey bandytheterms.

3. Rohee‘s juxtaposition of “homo sapiens” and “homo struthio” and his inferenceaboutme,reminds me about what is normally

said about him. I will not descend into that pit of uncivildiscourse.

4 Sorry Mr Rohee, falsely creating a position and illegitimately appointing someone to it, it not a solution to the CEO‘s cries for assistance GECOMneedstoappointits DCEO post haste and stop embracing forms of maladministration and manipulation in an effort to give the PPP absolute controloverGECOM.

You need to disavow yourself of your Founder‘s mantrathat‘thePPPneeded administrative power in addition to the executive power which it had acquired’.

Yourstruly, VincentAlexander GECOMCommissioner

require reassessment to determine how the changes couldaffecttheParticipant’s rights [T]he status of National Toshaos Council continued endorsement

w a r r a n t s o n g o i n g consideration due to its importance.”Inotherwords, ART’s assertions that Guyana’s jurisdictional carbon credits respect indigenous peoples’ rights rests on the NTC’s endorsement Take that away, and ART knows that its first (and so far its only) set of TREES-approved credits will be on shaky ground.

Our concern is respect for our right as indigenous peoples to free, prior, and informedconsent.Thisisnot to say that no indigenous community in Guyana wouldeverdecidetogiveits consent to carbon credit sales,onlythatwemusthave the opportunity and the information required to take thisdecisionforourselves,in ourownwayandinourown time,notbyastrokeofapen bytheNTCinGeorgetown.

PradeepaBholanath at the Ministry of Natural Resources also made a puzzling comment, after questioning my credibility, that “in democracies, there will always be varying commentary around ambitious climate action –and sometimes these will be forpartisanpoliticalreasons ratherthanbasedonfacts.”

Thedeceptivenessofthis comment is frustrating. As stated above, our communities’concerns over

the carbon credit approval andsaleareaboutrespectfor our rights, not opposition to climateaction.

Thecommentshowsjust how disconnected our government is from our indigenous communities Ask any indigenous person how climate change has affected their life, and they will give you a list. Shifting weatherpatternsattributable to climate change affect everything,fromthecassava weeattotheleavesweuseto makeourroofs.

Ms.Bholanathalsonoted that I had been part of the LCDS consultation process led by the government. Of course, I was; I care about my communities and have long worked to advocate for meaningful consultations and respect for the rights of Amerindians. But the fact remains that consultation is n o t c o n s e n t , and a consultation process that does not lead to an opportunity for our communities to give or withhold consent through our own processes cannot constitute meaningful participation.Iwasalsopart of a meeting where Ms. Bholanath said that they would take seriously important lessons learnt from the previous LCDS. These recent actions show that those lessons have been ignored, and we see a dangerous trend in ignoring rightsandproperprocess.

For the government, this carbon credit scheme is aboutmoney.

For theART Secretariat,

it’s about reputation. The concerns I have expressed, which are shared by many m e m b e r s o f o u r communities, are about safeguardingourculture,our identity,andourwayoflife.I callontheARTSecretariatto reevaluatetheroleplayedby the NTC in carbon credit approval for all future batches of credits, and I call on the Government of Guyana to stop using the NTC as a substitute for genuine free, prior, and informedconsent.

Climate change is a real threat to humanity with indigenous people being the most vulnerable While Guyana may be able to cash in on our mitigating measures, it should not be doneattheexpenseofstrong processes that respect and protect rights. Ignoring our rights will threaten the very existence of Guyana’s first peoples. We are still in the initial stages of the carbon credit scheme, and there have been fundamental missteps that can be corrected We need mechanisms that reflect full a n d m e a n i n g f u l participation, true representation, and respect for our rights as indigenous peoples.

We can use this opportunity to realise the ‘One Guyana’ policy and trulyleadtheglobaleffortin fighting climate change, without sidestepping the legitimate concerns of our communities.

Yoursfaithfully, NicholasFredericks

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EXXON’S CONSULTATIONS

Thanks to the PPP Govt. and Exxon for this consultation circus.

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Consultations without questions is a new one.

That’s like a wedding without singing, dancing, or eating.

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It’s like a funeral without sermon, without a body.

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This is how the PPP Govt. and Exxon burying Guyanese.

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$31M more

to

execute

electrical

works at Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

W h i l e e x p e n d i n g approximately $186 million to modernize the front of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and to install the heating, v e n t i l a t i o n a n d a i r conditioning (HVAC) systems, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport would also be spending another $31 million to execute the electrical works onthefacility

Accordingtoinformation released on the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) website, is that following the national competitive bidding procedures a contract has been awarded to contractor, A.Orgasein and Sons to do the electrical works at the facility to the tune of $31,409,000.

As previously reported, the Ministry commenced a rehabilitation project last year to have the sporting facility be enhanced and modernized.

Kaieteur News had reported that in November last year, contractor, ECS Construction had won a $97M contract to have the front of the building redesigned While in

December, that same contractor was awarded another contract worth $89 million to install the HVAC systems. This means that ECS Construction has been awarded a total of $186M for thetwoprojects.

DuringavisittotheSport Hall back in November, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Charles Ramson had told this publication that the $97M covers only the first phase of the rehabilitation project The Minister explained then that the work at the Sports Hall will be done in phases that will run concurrently Speaking of the first phase, the Minister had said, “thisoneisfortheredesignof the front section; the entire front section is going to be pulled down and be modernized.” This specific phase is expected to be completed in eight months. The other phases will see the e n t i r e f a c i l i t y a i r conditioned, and the installation of bucket seats. The Minister disclosed that theSportsHall'sflooringwill be enhanced as well, while the bottom sides of the building are to extended “to give us a little bit more

room.”

Ramson said that the Sports Hall is old and rehabilitation is aimed at modernizing the facility

“You know we are in a modern country We need to have a modern facility especially a modern indoor facility, it would be the only airconditionedfacilitythatis indoor in the country and that's important not only for the sports that we play there currently, let's say we wanna hostinternationalboxingthis would be a good facility for that,”heexplained.

Following the tender to rehabilitate the facility, the Ministry had also invited bidsfortherepairofthemain roof which is estimated to cost $12 5M, electrical installation works which was estimatedtocost$37.9Mand the heating, ventilation and, air conditioning (HVAC) installation works, which was estimated to cost $74.2M.

T h i s y e a r , t h e government has allocated a total of $4.3 billion for the overall development of sports in the country. This allocation will also cover the completion of the Cliff AndersonSportsHall.

ExxonMobil submits draft agreement for oil spill coverage

...Studyofcostforworstcasescenariounderreview-EPAHead

H e a d o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsram has confirmed that the regulatory body is in receipt of a draft parent guarantee for oil spill coverage from ExxonMobil Corpo ation This is to

complement the insurance policy in place by Exxon's subsidiary and operator of the Stabroek Block, Esso Exploration and Production GuyanaLimited(EEPGL).

Parsram said the EPA is also in receipt of an assessment regarding the realisticcostforanoilspillin a worst case scenario. This was an independent study he said, adding that it is in keeping with the provisions contained in the permit governing EEPGL's fourth project development at the Yellowtail field in the StabroekBlock.

He said this assessment will inform the size of the guarantee to be requested fromExxon.

According to the Yellowtail Permit, EEPGL has to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency, as soon as reasonably practicable, and upon its request, a series of documents and evidence to ensure the State is well protectedfrombeingsaddled with oil spill costs. These include Environmental Liability Insurance policies in both a printed and

EPAHead, Kemraj Parsram

electronic copy, a summary of the Environmental Liability Insurance policies detailingtheinsurer,thetype of insurance, the amount of coverage provided by each policy, key terms of the insurance policies, what types of environmental damage the policies cover, what types of environmental damage the policies do not cover, and the duration of eachpolicy,evidencethatthe insurer is authorised to provide the insurance in Guyana, evidence of authorisation of the institution or parent (insurers) to provide insurance, and evidence of the insurer's financial strengthandmarketgrades.

EEPGL must also, as soon as is reasonably practicable,providefromthe

parent company or affiliate companies of permit holder and its co-venturers, one or more legally binding agreements to the agency, in whichtheparentcompanyor affiliate companies of the permit holder and its coventurers, undertake to provide adequate financial resources to pay or satisfy t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e environmental obligations regarding the Stabroek Block.

K a i e t e u r N e w s previously reported that Exxon and government were in talks about a US$2B parent guarantee for oil spill coverage. This would be in addition to the EEPGL's provision of a policy totalling US$600M per occurrenceofanoilspill.

The EPA had said it would not sign off on the US$2B until justification was provided. Parsram had said in 2022 that Exxon was asked to explain how it arrivedattheproposedsum.

He had said, “…We, as the regulator, are working with them and questioning what makes sense and what doesn't and laying out what we expect…I am not saying the US$2B would not be accepted but you cannot come up with a figure out of the air, you have to show me how you arrived at that figure…”

Hesaidthesediscussions arestillongoing.

Man walks free of 2018 murder of ex-girlfriend

Forty-four-year-old Lurick Fiffee, of 1109 Westminster, West Bank D e m e r a r a , w a s o n Wednesdayfreedofacharge which alleged that he murdered his ex-girlfriend, Rosemary Rudder back in 2018.

A f t e r h o u r s o f deliberating the jury came back with a unanimous verdict of not guilty for the capital offence. As such, Justice Simone MorrisRamlall freed Fiffee of the indictment which had stated that he murdered Rudder between March 30, and 31, 2018 at Westminster, West

BankDemerara.

Fiffee, who was on trial before Justice MorrisRamlall at the Demerara High Court was represented

by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd. According to reports, 32-year-oldRosemary,a

(Continued on page 9)

Dead, Rosemary Rudder Freed, Lurick Fiffee

The majority of Guyanese are honest and law-abiding

One of the most disgusting traits which is often found among some, notall,Guyaneseremigrants is the tendency for them to feel that they are better than locals. They even, at times, presume that they have a higher standing than locals who have remained in Guyana.

They assume that

because they have lived in a foreign country and may have done well materially that they are better than us who remained here. While theymaybemateriallybetter off than those of us who stayed here, this does not makethembetterpersonsor more morally sounder than thosewholivehere.Feeling that they are superior and

exuding condescension, thesepersonsliketocriticise us and paint us as being bad and full of faults. But our localsarenolessflawedthan foreigners. We are lambasted for being corrupt. But some of the biggest crooks are to be found in the countries from whence our remigrants came. Our people may have

AG asks Appeal Court to dismiss futile election petition case

Attorney General (AG)

AnilNandlall,SC,hasasked the Court of Appeal to dismiss the APNU+AFC’s appeal for its elections petition#88.

The matter was previouslydismissedalmost two years ago by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George Wiltshire, SC. APNU+AFC

Parliamentarian and Attorney Roysdale Forde, who is representing the petitioners, had submitted that the Chief Justice acted unlawfully and misdirected herself when she failed to considertheobjectiveofthe petition in making her decision.

On April 26, 2021, the Chief Justice dismissed the petition and ruled that the March02,2020electionwas conductedlawfullyandthere werenobreaches,violations

or non-compliance with the laws of Guyana by the G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission(GECOM.)

O n We d n e s d a y, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette CummingsEdwards and Justices of Appeal, Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud commenced hearing the appeal. In his

submission, Forde contendedthatSection22of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act is unconstitutional and that Order No. 60 of 2020 is invalid,null,void,andofno effect. Nandlall said that the case lacked merit and asked the court to dismiss the proceedings.

“This election petition is quite narrow and has raised really one issue and we are of the firm view that legal issue has not been meted out by the appellants. We asked respectfully that theappealbedismissedwith an appropriate order in respect of costs,” Nandlall said. Last December, Court of Appeal, took a majority decision, to hear the appeal challenging the decision of the Chief to throw out the petition.

Man walks free of 2018 murder...

Frompage8

catererofEccles,EastBank Demerara, had shared a relationship with Fiffee. On March 30, 2018, Rosemary had visited Fiffee, at his Westminster, West Bank Demerara home around 22:30hours.

Reports indicate that on arrival at his home, Rosemary saw Fiffee in the companyofanotherwoman.

As such, the two got into a heated argument which resultedinascuffle.

The State's case is that during the scuffle, Fiffee choked Rudder and she collapsed to the floor

During the trial, it was revealed that Fiffee subsequently left Rosemary lyingmotionlessinthehouse andwenttothepolicestation and make a report The

Dem Boys Seh...

police then visited the scene and took Rosemary to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was pronounceddeadonarrival. A p o s t - m o r t e m examination performed on Rudder revealed that she died as a result of compression to the neck consistent with choking and compounded with blunt traumatothehead.

Why dese things does happen?

De number of people wah dead in de earthquakeinTürkiyeandSyriaismoredan four times wah dead in de 9/11 attacks. Imaginehowdeworldwasinshockwhende Twin Towers were attacked. Now this earthquakecomeandkillfourtimesasmany people.Datisreally,reallydreadfulnews.

Is really sad wah happen to dem countries, and how so much people die because of one natural disaster How does one build back after such a tragedy? Who gan want to go and live again in high-rise buildingwahgancometumblingdown?

When yuh see dem rescuers pulling out childrenalive,yuhdoesbehappy.

Butthinkalsoabouthowmanychildren buried underneath de rubble and nah gan mekit.Sometimesyuhdoesgatfuhaskyuh

selfwhereisGodinallofdis.Demmussgat one explanation fuh why these things does happen.

De news said is one of de deadliest earthquakes fuh dis century But dem boys did remember de earthquake wah did hit Haiti in 2010 which did kill about 300,000 persons.

And dem did not have much high-rise structure dere. De scientists need to tell we whyallofdethingsdoeshappen.Whatcause dis hurricane and why some does be more deadlierdanothers.

Otherwise, some people might want claimdatwelivingindelastdays.Butdem boys nah ready fuh dem days yet, so let we getsomeodderexplanation. Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

their ways, but the majority of people in Guyana are decent, law-abiding and honest Some of our politiciansmaybedishonest andcorrupt,butthemajority is not and all should not be paintedwiththesamebrush.

The former Speaker of the Ohio Assembly is presently facing a massive briberyprobe.LastMarch,a US congressman was found guilty to making false statements in a probe investigating illegal campaign donations In California,aformermember of Congress was charged on multiple counts of fraud.At present US Congressman is facing a probe by the Brazilian authorities. And another Congressman is facingfraudchargesoffraud in Brazil. A Congressman fromNebraskawaslastyear convictedoflyingtotheFBI. When it comes to human rights, the US citizens have nomoralauthoritytolecture to anyone about human rights. Who it was that was responsible for the illegal incarceration and torture of persons at the US holding facilityatGuantanamoBay?

This is just a smattering of the sort of conduct which pervades the US political system. Yet, some persons seem to like to paint our politicians as being corrupt and dishonest. But when it comes to lying, nothing beats the United States government.WastheUnited Nations and the world not soldthe‘biglie’thatIraqhad w e a p o n s o f m a s s destruction?And who really believes that nonsense that

the Chinese balloon which was shot down was spyware?

In fact, about 15 years ago, a gentleman wrote a book calling attention to the fact that the American political system is riddled withlies,includingthefable ofgovernmentofthepeople, by the people and for the people. The Big Lie about electoral fraud has undermined the United States credibility internationally Andmillions ofAmericansstillbelievethe BigLiethatmillionsofvotes were stolen from the Republican Presidential candidate in the previous UnitedStateselections. And who can forget the cover-up about the role of fossil fuels in climate change. The oil companies were told years ago that their actions were i n c r e a s i n g g l o b a l temperatures.Andnowthere is an attempt to shift responsibility for climate action to other countries. But the Americans do not havetheexclusivepatenton the Big Lie. The narrative about‘installedgovernment’ andfraudulentelectionswas a Big Lie perpetrated on the Guyanese.Weareyetalsoto learn anything more about the alleged four Russians whocameintototapintothe GECOM computer system even though the tabulation process was being done manually We are yet to see theStatementsofPollwhich allegedly proves that the APNU+AFC won the elections. We are yet to see the proof that of someone being bribed to vote against

the government in the noconfidence motion. Were it not for persons of integrity and honesty, including within GECOM, the political parties and the media, the attempt to rig the 2020 elections may have been successful. It was because the overwhelming majority of Guyanese subscribed to honesty that the Big Lies which were being peddled did not result in the overturning of the democratic will of the people.

Thosewhothereforefeel that they have lecture Guyanese at home about morality – including political morality – should be asked to first examine whether they have been consistent in condemning the Big Lies which were beingspreadbetweenMarch and August 2020 and the other Big Lies which have beenconcoctedsinceandare aimed at dividing the population Guyanese are not drowning in a cesspool of corruption. Neither are our politicians any more corrupt that some of those rascalsinWashington.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC.

Fishermen swam 20 miles to safety after boat mishap in Atlantic Ocean

Six fishermen were last Sunday rescued by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, in the vicinity of Iron Punt Foreshore, Pomeroon River

The men reportedly survived the ordeal, by helping each other to swim some 20 miles tosafety,aftertheirboatsanklastThursdayin theAtlanticOcean.

GDFinareleasestatedthatithadlearntof the fishermen's plight on Saturday after receivingadistressreportthatafishingvessel hadlostpropulsionintheAtlanticOcean.

A search and rescue operation was initiated around noon that same day to locate thevesselindistress.

When the Coast Guard arrived at the location, they found debris and an icebox at a foreshoreandsoonrealizedthatthevesselhad sunk.Theybeganlookingforsurvivors, (Continued on page 13)

Modern air corps, coastguard for GDF

...Presidentpromises

Over 8,000 people have registeredfortheMinistryof Human Services and Social S e c u r i t y ' s Wo m e n Innovative and Investment N e t w o r k ( W I I N ) p r o g r a m m e , s i n c e registration restarted in January2023.

This year, interested persons will be trained in new areas such as food tourism, social media marketing,design,décorand events management, entrepreneurship, project management, and leadership advocacy, the Department of Public Information said in a pressrelease.

They will also be trained in recurring courses such as child care, care for the elderly, graphics design, h o m e m a n a g e m e n t , television and video production, and garment construction.

The programme aims to support and empower women in society WIIN, therefore, provides a range of opportunities for women, s u c h a s a c c e s s t o employment in the public andprivatesectors,aswellas encouraging economic independence, particularly for single mothers and those f r o m l o w - i n c o m e

President IrfaanAli on Wednesday promised that his Government will develop a modern air corps and coast guard for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to ensure that the country is neverfoundwantingwhenit comes to responding to securitythreats.

The Head of State, who deliveredthefeatureaddress at the GDF's Annual Officers'ConferenceatBase Camp Ayanganna, said that significant investments will also be made in upskilling, restraining and retooling ranks of the GDF and equipping the force with modern equipment to

backgrounds.

It has introduced measures to help raise their incomes, such as providing free vocational training, grants, and access to business loans. Further, the programme is particularly dedicated to ensuring women in rural regions have access to the same opportunities available in urban areas through a hybrid model that facilitates inpersonandonlinetraining.

A s s u c h , f e m a l e entrepreneurs are provided with mentorship, financial advice, and networking opportunities to help them succeed in their businesses. In addition, WIIN offers training programmes to help women gain essential skills, such as computer literacy, basic business management, andEnglish.

This is crucial in facilitating the participation of women in the job market. The number of courses offered continue to increase annually In 2021, 2,170 persons were trained. There were some 588 graduates from Region Four, 409 from Region Two, 320 from Region Three, 345 from Region Five, and 307 from Region Six. Last year, the

efficiently execute its mandate.

The two-day conference is being held under the theme, "Enhancing National Security and Development through Capacity Building, Empowering Troops and Strengthening Community Relations".Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), Mark Phillips; the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bessandotherofficialswere also at the opening ceremony, a release by the Office of the President stated.

programmesawa62percent increase in participants with over 10,000 registrants

Region Four had the highest number of persons trained with 937 women, while RegionsThreeandFiveeach had over 500 persons trained.

In the hinterland, over 350 persons were trained.

RegionNinesawanincrease of532percent,whileRegion Seven saw a 396 per cent increase,andRegionTenhad an increase of 335 per cent.

Last year, 758 persons were trained in child care, while 563 were trained in graphic designand523incareforthe elderly

Persons desirous of signing up can do so online u s i n g t h e l i n k http://www facebook com/h umanservicesgy The only requirements for the programme are a valid telephonenumberandaform of identification (passport or identification card) For those doing classes online, a computer is required with a camera and stable internet connection.

Registration closes on February 28, 2023. For more information, persons can contact the ministry at 2292751or229-2842.

Over 8,000 persons registered for 'WIIN' initiative so far

The rescued fishermen posing for a photo with the members of the Coast Guard who rescued them.

DDL partnering with Israeli group on major dairy project in Guyana

Senior officials from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs met Demerara Distillers Ltd Chairman Komal Samaroo and his delegation, who are visiting Israel to finalise a project with the LR Group for the establishment of a dairy farm inGuyana.

“We welcome this project,whichwillbethefirst state-of-the-art dairy farm in the Caribbean and will make a significant contribution to food security in the region. Israel is a world leader in dairy farming and other agriculturaltechnologies.We look forward to enhancing our economic cooperation with Guyana,” said Ms Michal Gur-Aryeh, Director of Department for Economic Relations with Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa in the Ministry of ForeignAffairs

Mr Yosef Levi Sfari, Director of Department for the Caribbean in the Ministry ofForeignAffairspointedout that “Israel is seeking to deepen its relations with Guyana.“Wearepleasedthat Ambassador Itai Bardov will be presenting his credentials to President Irfaan Ali in the comingweeks,”sheadded.

Samaroo for his part stated that he is pleased to collaborate with the LR Group of Israel on the development of this transformational project which is a significant investment in pursuance of DDLdiversification strategy

He noted: "the LR Group brings to this Joint Venture expertise and experience in implementing similar projects in Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Angola, and Philippines among others countries" He welcomed the expression of supportforthisprojectbythe Government of Israel through its Foreign Ministry

Mr Ami Lustig, Founder and CEO, LR Group: "LR Group is honoured to form a joint venture with DDL, one of Guyana'sleadingcompanies, forthedevelopmentofa500milking cows dairy farm and the transfer of modern Israeli agro-technologiesandknowhow We are excited at the launch of this project, which LR Group regards as the first step towards broader cooperation with Guyana, in the areas of commercial agriculture, water supply, renewable energy, healthcare andmore.

Seated from (l-r)

Abandoned crew onboard Surinamese vessel sent home without pay

The employers who allegedly disappeared and left a crew of six men stranded onboard a Surinamese vessel anchored in the Essequibo River have returned but are now being accused of sending home the menwithoutpay.

According to one of the

crew members, Orin Riddle, a Guyanese, the owners of the vessel returned after Kaieteur News reported that they were abandoned without food and cash.

Riddle said that his employers were not too pleased with them relating their situation to the media

and had allegedly threatened them and eventually sent them home without any pay or passage. “Only one boy that remained behind, they give him $50,000”, Riddle alleged.

Kaieteur News reached out one of the employers (name provided) and he

denied threatening the crew

The employer, however, did admit that he still owes the crew their salaries but refutedclaimsthattheywere sent home without any money. “We give them hundred thousand each fuh themgohome”,themansaid while adding that he owes a balanceofUS$11,500.

He acknowledged that the men “are family men” andpromisedtopaythemoff by next week Monday The employer related that he was unable pay the crew on time because his client had not paid him for towing a vessel from Skeldon, Berbice to Trinidad. “I know that it is

not them (the crew) problem (for him not being paid), but the man that hire we is from Trinidadandheonlygivewe money for the fuel to get there and when we reach there,heain'tpaywe.Heleft we stranded in Trinidad and we had to borrow money now just to buy fuel so we couldreturnbacktoGuyana. Right now ah got he in court formemoney,”theemployer explained to Kaieteur News. He assured that he is getting some cash and will make sure that the crew is paid in fullonMonday

Kaieteur News had reportedaweekagothatthe

(Continued on page 13)

Yosef Levi Sfari, Director of Department for the Caribbean; Michal Gur-Arey, Director of Department for Economic Relations with Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa; Joseph Haim Harrosh- Director of LR Group; Ami Lustig, Founder and CEO, LR Group; Wesley Kirton- Project Advisor; Komal Samaroo- Chairman of DDL Group; Vasudeo Singh, Deputy CEO DDL Group and Hagay Maayan- VP Business Development LR Group

DDL is partnering with LR Group in Israeli on a major dairy project here

The crew that was stranded onboard the Pearl of the Atlantic

Kelon Scott crashed into the back of a parked truck

Bikerdies aftercrashing intoparked truckinBerbice

A 24-yr-old man from Limlair,Corentyne,Berbice died yesterday morning after his motorbike crashed into a parked truck on the AuchlynePublicRoad.

The dead man has been identifiedasKelonAnthony Scott. Reports are that Scott was riding his motorcycle bearing license plate number CL 9964 and was proceeding west along the southern lane. Scott who was reportedly riding at a fast rate, lost control and subsequently crashed into the truck that was parked along the public road sometime around 06:00 am. Hewaspickedupbypublicspirited persons and rushed tothePortMourantHospital where he was pronounced deadonarrival.

13,000 Nigerians take Shell to court in England over devastating oil spills that wrecked their livelihoods

On the backdrop o f 1 3 , 0 0 0

N i g e r i a n s resorting to filing a lawsuit against British oil giant, Shell at the London High Court seeking compensation for the devastating effects of oil spills caused by the oil major's Nigerian subsidiary – Kaieteur News publisher, Glenn Lall is cautioning Guyanese to be cognizant of thecrueloilandgasindustry and how oil giants have destroyed the livelihoods of citizensofonceglorifiedoilnations.

Dead, Kelon Anthony Scott

Abandonedcrewonboard...

From page 12 crew made-up of Guyanese, Surinamese and Venezuelan men, was stranded some 22 days on board the vessel called 'The Pearl of the Atlantic'. It was anchored in the Essequibo River, a fair distance away from the Parika Stelling. After theirfoodsuppliesranout,they turned to the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD)forhelp.Anofficial ofMARADhadconfirmedthat agency's crew welfare department met with men and

has taken some food supplies forthem.

Riddle one of the crew members had related that their Surinamese employers had th employed them on the 24 of November last year to go on a month-longvoyagetoTrinidad andreturn.

The crew was promised that they would have been paid their monies in full when they returned from the voyage They had set sail a few days later for Trinidad and had returnedonJanuary3last.

Fishermen swam...

From page 10 but could not locate the fishermen that afternoon. The following day (Sunday) they returned to the area and found that members of thesix-manfishingcrewhadsurvivedtheordeal. According to the GDF, the men were rescued some 20 miles westfromwheretheirboatsank.Thesurvivorsreportedlytoldthe ranks that their boat sank on Thursday and “they supported each other as they swam ashore”. They were transported to the GDF Coast Guard Headquarters at Port Georgetown and reunited with theirfamiliesonMonday

“That's the exact situation the Guyanese population could end up in, 30, 40 years from now…” Lallcautioned.

It was on Thursday February 2, when the people

of the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, filed claims against Shell over oil spills which they say have wrecked their livelihoods, poisoned their wells, and polluted their land and water,whichmeanstheycan nolongerfarmorfish.

Reuters reported that the lawsuit will test whether multi-nationals can be held to account for the actions of overseas s u b s i d i a r i e s O n Thursday, UK law firm, Leigh Day said it had filed claims on behalf of thousands of Nigerian people and 17 institutions including churches and schools from Ogale community in Niger Delta for compensation for loss of

livelihoods and damage againstShell.

According to Reuters, in 2021, the United Kingdom Supreme Court allowed a group of 42,500 Nigerian farmersandfishermentosue Shell in the English courts after years of oil spills had contaminated land and groundwater

The Judges said at the time, there was an arguable case that Shell, one of the world's biggest energy companies, was responsible because it exercised significant control over its Nigeriasubsidiary,SPDC.

In response to the latest move by the two Nigerian communities, Amnesty International's Head of BusinessandHumanRights, Mark Dummett said,

“Amnesty stands by these two communities in the Niger Delta, which have been engaged in litigation against Shell for seven years, asking that the company clean up the damage caused and compensate them for their lostlivelihoods.”

He added, “Had this level of contamination and pollutionoccurredinEurope or North America, it is hard to imagine that there would not have been swift and severe consequences and legalredress.

Shellshouldcleanupthe pollution the oil has caused in these communities and compensate those whose livelihoods have been devastatedand whose health hasbeenharmed.”

GECOM Chair a no-show for cross-examination

by Nigel Hughes at elections COI

Despite being scheduled for cross examination on Wednesday, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections

Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh, was a no-show at the Commission of Inquiry

(COI) into the March 2020 Regional and General Elections.

Justice Singh was listed

among witnesses who were set to face a series of questions from Nigel Hughes, the lawyer for

Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers, in relation to their testimonies implicating

Myers in the elections mayhem before the elections COIcommittee.

However, when the hearing was ready to commence, Justice Singh was absent and Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) explained to Mr Hughes that the GECOM Chair did not implicate Myersinhertestimony

Hughes was told that his questioning of witnesses should be limited to those whoimplicatedhisclient.

The lawyer, however, explained that Justice (Ret'd) Singh, in her testimony, indicatedthatMr Gunrajhad accused Ms Myers of blocking him from entering sections of the Command Centre. But the Commission said it is for Mr Gunraj to respond to those allegations andnottheGECOMChair GECOM Commissioner Gunraj is now expected to reappear before the Elections COItodayat10:00hrs.

In the meantime, Hughes was given the opportunity to cross examine GECOM's IT Manager,AnealGiddings.

While under crossexamination, he admitted that he removed the Secretariat's server from the R e g i o n 4 R e g i o n a l Command Centre on March 5, 2020, and placed it into his personal car despite the fact that there were several vehicles belonging to the C o m m i s s i o n i n t h e compoundatthetime.

Hughes asked whether his actions were in keeping with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Mr Giddings said” the SOP does not clearly state where the server or data should be placed.”

H o w e v e r r e t i r e d Chancellor of the Judiciary, CarlSingh,soughttostopthe line of questioning by enquiring whether, Mr Giddings was on trial. The former Chancellor is among the three Commissioners presidingovertheCOI.

“The issue remains the same, has Mr Giddings said anything implicatory of Ms Myers.Ifhedid,putittohim, let's hear what he has to say,” CommissionerSinghsaid.

M r H u g h e s , nevertheless, argued that he was placing the issues into context. Based on previous testimonies before the Commission,Myershasbeen accused of breaching GECOM'sSOPs.

On Tuesday, Hughes was granted permission to crossexamineatleastsixwitnesses including Justice Singh and GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj when he appearedattheCOI

(Continued on page 16)

OP:ED

By GHK Lall

A new party- somebody is kidding

pivotalelectiontest.

In a different time, a less barbaric place, a more honorable polity, I could agree with the positions that a new force, party, political presence is vital. Morespecifically,with the sensible public tabling of the need for a new political party to contest the next elections. I heard echoes of what I had written right here several years ago about a presence that could be icebreaker, showstopper, gamechanger. Now, just look where we ended up, what we got, how we have been left in the wake of what turned out to be individual and group tragedies and an overall nationalcalamity

In the December 2018 to August 2020 era, close to a double-digit cohort of new political faces and groups surfaced to contest that

Every single group spoke vociferously about not joining forces, not linking arms, with either the PPP or PNC. They solemnly swore such oaths. They pledged their principles in powerful and pious proclamations of electoral and political purity It is instructive what happened to them then. It is more brilliantly illuminating as to where most, if not all of them,arenow

I urge my fellow

Guyanese to check for themselves,checkallofthem one by one, one group after another, and then figure out what resulted; what mostgot for themselves, what Guyanese got for trusting them.

It should be easy, the record is not secret: jobs, parliament, clothes, e l e v a t i o n s , p e r k s , prosperities, personal recognition, and personal

aggrandizement. Some who were positioning themselves as possible future contenders tied neat, sweet bundles with theforeigners. WhatGuyana got for their vote of confidence was simple: instead of battling for the people,thosewhotrustedand voted for those leaders and groups, there was bargaining forself. Inlocallingo:itpays to'buyandsell.'

Whycareaboutthesmall fraction of voters feeling their ballot was wasted, yet anotherbetrayal?

IagreethatGuyananeeds anewpoliticalparty.Iamnot convinced, however, that Guyanese voters are ready for one; or more of the 2020 variety. To state my case: I am done voting, can best servethiscountrydoingwhat Idotoday

But, to return to the crux of this well-meaning, not without substance, call for a new political group, there is

Rice farmers bemoan hike in spare parts

Rice farmers from Regions Two, Three, Five, and Six onTuesday met with Agriculture Minister, MustaphaZulfikartodiscuss among other things, the hike in spare parts and the unstructured nature of the pricesforpaddy

Whilenotingthatmostof their issues are a result of unfavourable weather and external economic impacts, thefarmerswastednotimein calling on the government to intervene in what they consider price gouging by suppliers of spare parts, the

not feeling the effect

Everything raising. While these things are in place by the government the prices still high and growing every day The issue is now between the government and the dealers because we know for a fact that the VAT is supposed to be deducted but it's like it's not. I bought a starter yesterday for $46,000. It used to be for $25,000 Look at the markup. Some of them still charging VAT I have a receipt to prove it,” a farmer explained.

one question. Who is going totrustsuchagroup? Which, or how many, Guyanese is ready to exercise their franchise to the favor of a strange, not totally trusted, newcomer?

A brother spoke to me of independent voters. I agree that there may be those, but don'tthinkthatarethatmany; enough to make a difference. Notanymore.

Thekeyisthatforthereto be independent voters, there must be independent thinkers, a whole school of them. Look at where Guyanesearetoday:eventhe once, supposed 'independent thinker' has now surrendered thatshininggrandeurintothe primacy of the tribal. They dutifully come up with all kinds of defenses and advocacies (beautiful, even stirring), that are vested in tribal interests, and all of which lack one integral component: the national, the genuine, mostly the principled, which propels to the understanding that the emphasis on race and political kin always devastates the national When the national is weakened, the internationals comerushingonfeetofsteel,

farmers, the most recent being the $1 billion fertilizer assistance programme that wascompletedlastyear

He noted that although farmers are requesting an across-the-board price for paddy from millers, the government cannot institute this because transportation cost plays a significant role in the price for paddy in certain regions. “We will continue to engage the millersonpricesbutIcannot promise an across-the-board priceforpaddy Forinstance, in Region Two, the price to

o r s t e a l t h Guyanese lose, lose again, lose whatever they had left (including courage).

The discovery of oil damaged us irreparably Men and women who used to condemn (rightly) the PNC foritsatrocitiesand failures, are now utterly dumbstruck when worse is done by their own beloved PPP They know the rottenness in upper arcs of governance, but that decay is best kept in the family. I call it intellectualincest at the individual level. Due to this c o w a r d i c e , u n b o r n generations to the horrors of economic cannibalisation

According to partisan media contributors, even the great prophets (Buddha, Jesus, Mohamed) can't hold a candletothosetheyknoware rogues, swindlers and deceiversofthefirstwater

So, who is moving to where? To which new presence, which starts out with these existential handicaps? Not when the keystoGuyana'soilkingdom are dangled in alluring

GHK Lall

suspension and temptation before the shaky, and the ready.

Not when the Vice President, knows the tricks that make others tick, and sticktohisslickprogram. He boughtoutmanyin2020,and continues doing so Independents enrichedwith sweet handouts that transform recipientsinto the opulent.

No chance for those who comeforward,comethetime for the next tussle. With a budget so insulting, so dispiriting to the Guyanese multitudes clustered at the bottom, the time should be ripe for a mass voters' rebuff. Justdon'tholdbreath. Itain't happening here.The old is here to stay on top, and by a possibly massively wider margin,consideringoverseas votes.

Ministry of Agriculture said inapressrelease.

The farmers noted that whilethegovernmenthasput systems in place, they are still paying high prices and, in some cases, VAT on spare parts. “On the removal of VAT on spare parts, the government really do a good for us but the problem is we

Furthermore, the farmers told the Minister that the price for paddy should be standard in every region since all farmers are faced with the same issues M i n i s t e r M u s t a

h

transportwillbemorethanin Region Five so in order for millers to earn they take t h o s e f a c t o r s i n t o consideration.

d t h a t t h e government, since taking office has implemented a number of measures to assist

x p l a

You know for a fact last year we were able to negotiate with millers from Region Two for better prices forfarmersandnowyouare

(Continued on page 16)

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha (center) Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Madanlall Ramraj (left) and Deputy General Manager of the GRDB, Kuldip Ragnauth

...wantacross-the-board priceforpaddy

Elevators for Good Hope, West Minister secondary schools

DuringtheopeningoftendersonTuesdayattheNational Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that the Ministry of Education is seeking a supplier to supply and deliver four elevators lifts for the Good Hope Secondary School, East Coast Demerara and for the West Minister Secondary School, West Bank Demerara.

Attheopeningoftenders,atotalofthreecontractorshave applied for the project. It was reported in the media that the construction of the West Minister School and the ongoing construction of the Good Hope are projects funded by the World Bank. The construction of school at Prospect on the EastBankofDemerara,isalsosaidtobefundedbytheWorld Bank under the Guyana Secondary Education Improvement Project(GSEIP).

Belowarethecompaniesandtheirbids:

Ministry of Education

National SkillAudit Consultancy

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Supply and delivery of boiler water management control system for Rose Hall Estate.

Office of the Prime Minister Provision of security services.

Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Consultancy for digital marketing services.

Ministry of LegalAffairs

Consulting firm: consultancy sentencing guidelines (encompassing diversion and alternative sentencing options).

Tracer study of TVET Graduates.

Supply, delivery and institution of four elevators lifts at Good Hope Secondary School, East Coast Demerara and at West Minister Secondary School, West Bank Demerara.

Ministry ofAgriculture Rehabilitation/ Construction of Liliendaal and Ogle Drainage catchment banks area.

Ministry of Health

Supply and delivery of radiology supplies.

Accused Ponzi-schemer wanted on more fraud charges, failing to adhere to conditions of bail

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (AML/CFT) Act. They too Investigation Department (GPF) on Tuesday evening werechargedbySOCU. (CID) Headquarters, Eve issued a wanted bulletin for Meanwhile, the charges Leary, Georgetown, every accused Ponzi-schemer, 37- against the couple were Friday As a result of Yuri year-old Yuri Garcia- instituted by the Special failing to adhere to the DominguezofLot242Track Organised Crime Unit condition of his bail, a ‘A’ Coldigen, East Coast (SOCU). It was the first time wanted bulletin was issued Demerara, for failing to back then that SOCU had for him. Also, in a statement adhere to his bail conditions instituted charges under the thePolicedisclosedthatYuri and for additional fraud AML/CFT Act. The i s a l s o w a n t e d f o r charges. AML/CFT Act, Chapter questioning in relation to

Back in 2020, an 10:11, prohibits businesses several additional fraud investigation was carried out from operating as financial matters. by the Police and this led to institutions without the O n W e d n e s d a y Yuri and his wife, Ateeka necessary registration for afternoon, reporters were Ishmael being slapped with regulation and supervision informed that Yuri’s lawyer, 80-plusfraudrelatedcharges b y t h e R e g u l a t o r y Dexter Todd was handing under the Anti-Money Authorities, the Financial himovertothepoliceatCID Laundering and Countering Intelligence Unit (FIU), and Headquarters However, the Financing of Terrorism certificates purporting that GuyanaSecuritiesCouncil. while waiting, reporters (AML/CFT) Act. Ishmael his clients tested positive for The couple is accused of were informed that Yuri was also charged for COVID-19. defrauding hundreds of would be there in an hour conspiracy to commit a Moreover, in June 2021, Guyanese of millions However, up to press time felony Ishmael had denied two agents/marketers for through an alleged Ponzi- YurididnotturnupatCID. the charge, which alleges Garcia-Dominguez were scheme. Yuri made several A n y o n e w i t h that on July 27, 2021, she slapped with money court appearances before information about the conspired with her husband laundering charges. Aubrey multiple magistrates and he whereabouts ofYuri is asked and others to forge a Norton and Martina denied the charges that were to contact the nearest police COVID-19 test result to Seepersaud of Lot 242Track read to him. After spending station. This publication had show that she was positive. ‘A’ Coldigen, East Coast close to a month on remand, reported that GarciaKaieteur News had reported Demerara, were slapped Yuri was released on $30M Dominguez was granted that when the couple was with two charges under the bail with conditions citizenship in June 2020. He slated to appear in court – A n t i - M o n e y attached. One condition of and his wife are officials of their attorney, DexterTodd – Laundering/Countering the the bail is that Yuri report to Accelerated Capital Firm had presented medical Financing of Terrorism the Police Criminal Inc.

Wanted, Yuri Garcia-Dominguez

Turkey, Syria earthquakes death toll surpasses 15,000 ...tens of thousands remain under rubble

(Al Jazeera) The death buildingsduetotherisks. government shelters or In his speech, Erdogan spokesperson for the buildings flattened by the toll from a magnitude 7.8 Less than 12 hours later, hotels,authoritiessaid. said70countrieshadoffered International Committee of earthquakes. e a r t h q u a k e a n d i t s a second 7 6 magnitude Turkish health minister help in search-and-rescue the Red Cross (ICRC), told More bad weather is aftershocks, which struck tremor struck the same Fahrettin Koca said 1,647 operations and that Turkey AlJazeera. expected to hit the region, the southeastern region of region. people were killed in Hatay planned to open up hotels in 100+ powerful aftershocks further hampering rescue Turkeyalongtheborderwith In a statement carried by alone, the highest toll of any the tourism hub of Antalya, Duringthepasttwodays, operations Downed Syria,hascontinuedtorise. the state-run Anadolu Turkish province. At least to the west, to temporarily Turkey has been hit by more buildings and destroyed

The first earthquake Agency, AFAD listed the 1,846 people had been house people affected by the than 100 aftershocks of roads have also made it struck at 4:17am (01:17 affected regions so far as rescued in Hatay as of quakes. On the Syrian side, magnitude 4 and greater. difficulttofindsurvivorsand GMT) on Monday and was Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Tuesday evening, Koca the areas affected by the Aftershocks are smaller get crucial aid into affected centred in the Pazarcik Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, added. earthquakes are divided earthquakes that occur in the areas. Several airports have district of Kahramanmaras Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Turkish authorities say between government- same general area after a big also been closed after being province. Osmaniye, Hatay and Kilis. some 13.5 million people controlled territory and the earthquake. damagedbytheearthquakes.

According to the United Thousands more have been havebeenaffectedinanarea country’s last opposition- At least 81 magnitude-4 The earthquake’s States Geological Survey affected across the border in spanning roughly 450km held pocket of land, quakes, 20 magnitude-5 epicentreishometomillions (USGS), the earthquake the Syrian provinces of (280 miles) from Adana in encircledbyRussian-backed quakes, three magnitude-6 of Syrian refugees living in struck at a depth of about Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and the west to Diyarbakir in the governmentforces. quakesandtwomagnitude-7 Turkey outside the city of 17.9km (11 miles). Turkey’s Latakia. east, and 300km (186 miles) H u m a n i t a r i a n quakes have been recorded Gaziantep Thousands of Disaster and Emergency Earthquake death toll from Malatya in the north to organisations have said the in southeast Turkey since residents have been left Management Authority

At least 9,057 deaths Hatayinthesouth. earthquake has added Monday without shelter in freezing (AFAD) put the magnitude have been reported in International aid anotherlayertothesuffering Theanimatedmapbelow temperatures. of the quake at 7.4 near the Turkey, while 2,530 people amid devastation of the population in shows a time-lapse of all Syrian refugees make up cities of Kahramanmaras havediedinSyria.Thedeath On Tuesday, Turkish northwestern Syria, where thesequakes: more than 1.7 million of the andGaziantep. tollislikelytokeeprising. President Recep Tayyip some 4 1 million people Cold weather 15 million people inhabiting

More than 8,000 people Erdogan declared a three- requireassistance. hampering rescue efforts the 10 provinces affected by were recorded following the have been pulled from the month state of emergency in “People are traumatised, Rescuers are working in the earthquake, United quake with officials urging debrisinTurkey,whilesome 10 provinces across they feel helpless,”

Dozens of aftershocks

Adnan freezing temperatures to dig Nations spokesperson people not to enter damaged 380,000havetakenrefugein southeasternTurkey H a z e m , t h e S y r i a through the remains of StephaneDujarricsaid.

Schlumberger willing to relocate radioactive waste facility

Re s i d e n t s o f Houston, East Bank Demerara a n d n e i g h b o u r i n g communities have registered their strong disapproval for the radioactive waste treatment facility, being pursued by Schlumberger Guyana Inc (SGI), forcing the company to signal its willingness to relocate if necessary.

IMEX Inc. – a local environmental service provider to oil and gas companies- on Tuesday hosted a consultation at Parc Rayne, Rahaman's Park, East Bank Demerara, to engage citizens on operations of the facility

This meeting came close to two months after Guyana's High Court ruled that operationsatthefacilitymust cease.

On February 14, 2022, three Environmental Activists and residents who livenearbythefacility,Vanda Radzik, Danuta Radzik, and Raphael Singh, through their Lawyers: Marlene Alleyne, Siand Dhurjon, and Ronald Burch-Smith filed a lawsuit at the Demerara High Court, against the Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA),the Environmental Assessment BoardandSchlumberger

It was reported that on January 19, 2022, the EPA without any notice given to the public, granted Schlumberger permission to use, store and possess radioactive materials at its facilitylocatedatHouston.

Research by this publication shows that exposuretoradioactivewaste can cause cancerous growths in humans and genetic

...says awaiting EPAdecision

damage or mutation to animalsandplants.Scientists believe these changes could prevent sustainable procreation During the public engagement, several citizens stated their disapproval for the radioactive (RA) facility at Houston, given its close proximity to schools, homes, places of worship and work placesamongothers.

It was suggested by one resident that Schlumberger move its facility to an offshore location to reduce likely impacts to the environment and human health.

Schlumberger's Lawyer, KylePrescodtoldreportersat the sidelines of the event that the company is willing to relocate the operations from Houston.

He said, “Well then we just have to look at alternatives, whether it be relocating the facility or, we don't know at this point in time, but of course we are in the hands of the regulator so whatever the regulator says in terms of whether an EIAis required or whether the facility needs to be relocated, we will have to respect and adheretothose.”

The Attorney said the Houston location was selected given its prime position near the Demerara River This, he explained, reduces the need for the RA materials being transported on land, thereby limiting its exposuretocitizens.

According to him, if Schlumberger were to shift its operation elsewhere this m a y m e a n r o a d transportation and increased chances of incidents should

protocolsnotbefollowed.

The representative signalled that while he is not a technical personnel, the activities at Schlumberger are designed in a manner to limit likely impacts from the RAsources.

“Basicallythesourcesare sealed sources, so there is the seal that they are stored in, but even when they come out of that shield there is a separate shield for the source so it's not that you have a radioactivesourcethatisever out, completely exposed to theenvironment,”hesaid.

SGI has moved to the EPA, seeking approval to restart the operations at Houston The application was made shortly after the Court ruling on December 16,2022.

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan ruled that the EPA breached its statutory duties when it made the decision to waive the requirement of an EIA to Schlumberger in relation to granting an environmental permit for the constructionofthefacility

In fact, the Judge declared that EPA's decision tonotconductanEIAintothe effects of the construction of the facility was illegal, ultra

vires, unreasonable, and irrational since it breached t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l ProtectionAct,Cap.20:05.

Justice Harnanan granted an Order of Certiorari issued and directed to the EPA quashing its decision on June 9, 2021 to award an environmental authorisation to Schlumberger to construct a radioactive substances and material storage and calibrationfacility

Further, the Judge issued an injunction against Schlumberger, restraining it from continuing the possession, use and storage ofradioactivechemicalsatits

Houston facility, unless and until it is in receipt of a lawfully issued permit pursuant to the provisions of theEPAAct.

The EPA is presently in the process of reviewing a new application from SGI and will publish its decision

o n w h e t h e r a n Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)isrequired ornot.

I f t h e r e g u l a t o r determines that the study is required, SGI will have to conduct the assessment through an independent consultant, approved by the EPA. That study will then be

used by the agency to make a decision in granting the approvalfortheproject.

On the other hand, the EPAcandecidethatanEIAis not required and instead order an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) and/or other forms of assessment to inform its final decisionforthefacility

The public must be notifiedoftheEPA'sdecision according to the law, which must be supported with reasons for their conclusion. The public will also have an opportunity to offer comments on the decision madebytheEPA.

Residents engaged during the Schlumberger consultation

Motie gives Zimbabwe a...

From page 23 24 not out at the end while WestIndies. Tsiga, Wellington Masakadza, For his unbeaten 207, resisted the West Indies faced 36 balls without Chanderpaul was named surge for 83 balls to remain scoringastimeranoutforthe PlayeroftheMatch.

However, Tafadzwa

MediPharmpartnerswith...

From page 25

Jefford said. The Jefford Track and Field Classic is Guyana’s largest grassroots athletics event. The brand is undertakingtheresuscitationoftheGoldenMile,whichwas aprominenthistoricathleticsraceheldattheNationalPark. The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has sanctioned the event that was rebrandedThe Jefford Classic Mile.The programme will feature six categories and twelve maleandfemaleOneMileraces.

to represent GBF at...

Scores: Zimbabwe 379 for 9 dec (Ballance 137*, Kaia 67, Joseph 3-75) and 134 for 6 (Chibhabha 31, Tsiga 24, Motie 4-50, Chase 2-9) drew with West Indies 447 for 6 dec (Chanderpaul 207*, Brathwaite 182, Mavuta 5-140) and 203 for 5 dec (Reifer 58, Blackwood 57, Masakadza 3-71, Evans 2-41).

Thursday February 09, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Luck is finally on your side. And you deserve it, because you really worked hard to get these results in your life. In astrology, as in life, you can't succeedjustbysheerluck.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

The stars are pushing you to accept more responsibility in your life. In fact, you may not think you can do it, but everything will work out just fine.Atthemoment,youseem to have a special gift for leadingotherpeople

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Todayyouwillbelikeagoodluck charm to your family and friends. It's up to you to motivate people to get going and have fun together. Show themyourenthusiasmforlife.

CANCER(June21–July22)

When you least expect it, success comes into your life. You can say goodbye to the dreariness of daily routine, fears, and changing moods. You're now entering a period of wonderful good luck and success.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

RLifejustseemstobesmiling on you at the moment, Leo. Some sort of mystical force has entered your life and is enriching your contact and withotherpeople.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

At the moment, Virgo, the planets are aligned in a way t h a t e n c o u r a g e s communication and the written word. Therefore, you may feel like taking the plunge and writing that book you've been thinking about foralongtime.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Forawhilenow,you'vewanted to change something about your lifestyle or behavior towardthepeopleyoulove.You want your life to go in a new direction, but you don't want to upsetthepeoplearoundyou.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

The period just ahead of you promises a lot of luck and success. The initiatives you will take in your career or personal life will come off withoutahitch.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

What would happen if you decidedtotakecareofyourself today,Sagittarius?Thisiswhat the planets are trying to tell you. You need to relax, to let yourself be taken care of, and closeyoureyesanddream.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You're entering a positive period of calm and vitality, Capricorn. There's a harmonic atmosphere You feel very close to the people you love, and they will show you just howmuchtheycareaboutyou.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

TCertain people close to you are very demanding today

They may ask you to deal with thanklesstasksthatuseupyour precious energy Avoid spreading yourself too thin if youwanttoreachyourgoals.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Youandyourfriendsmayhave been planning a party for some time. Now you realize it's entirely up to you to actually make things happen. It seems that if you're going to get anywhere, you need to take c h a rg e a n d d e l e g a t e responsibility

From page 25

Michael Singh and Patrick Haynes were re-elected unopposed for their respective positions of president and General Secretary, respectively, for theGBF

Toney, president of the Linden Amateur Basketball

Association (LABA), president of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Jermaine Slater, and former female National Player Sonia Rodney are the three Vice PresidentsoftheGBF Deputy Audit Manager at the Caricom Secretariat Chavez Branche is the new Treasurer, and Quincy Baird, GTT’s Accounts Payable, Treasury and Tax Manager, will serve as the GBF’s A s s i s t a n t Secretary/Treasurer

Dennis Clarke, Deon Ferrier and Leona Kyte were named the three ‘At Large Members’oftheGBF

Magic Johnson and Joe Biden lead ‘King James’ tributes ‘We will never see another LeBron’

SportsMax - United “ L e B r o n , Adam Silver added: “It’s a States president Joe Biden congratulations. With your towering achievement that has praised LeBron James whole heart and soul you speaks to his sustained for “inspiring the nation” broke a hell of a record.You excellence over 20 seasons after surpassing Kareem elevated the game,” US intheleague.

Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time president Biden said in a “And quite amazingly, regular season NBA scoring videomessage. LeBron continues to play at record. “More than that, like an elite level and his

Los Angeles Lakers Kareem, Bill Russell and basketball history is still forward James entered otherswhocamebeforeyou, beingwritten.”

Tuesday’s game with the you challenged and inspired James is averaging 30.2 Oklahoma City Thunder the nation to be better, do points per game this season, needing 36 points to break better and live up to our full which is the seventh-best Abdul-Jabbar’s record, promise.” record in the division, whichhadstoodfor39years. James rose with both narrowly ahead of Kevin

The four-time MVP arms in celebration after Durant (29.7) and Stephen moved past Abdul-Jabbar’s makinghistoryandposedfor Curry(29.4).

38,387 career points to go photos with 75-year-old Golden State Warriors outright number one with a Abdul-Jabbar, who was in guard Curry and Brooklyn 14-foot fadeaway jumper attendanceinLosAngeles. Nets forward Durant also late in the third quarter at Fellow Lakers great congratulated James on his Crypto.comArena. MagicJohnsonsaid:“Inever remarkableachievement.

James’ game-high 38 thought that Kareem’s “Your sustained level of points on 13-of-20 shooting scoring record would be play for 20 years, reaching with three steals were not brokenbyanybody this pinnacle of scoring in enoughtopreventtheLakers “Itmeansmoretomyself b a s k e t b a l l , i t i s from losing 133-130 to the and to our fans because unbelievable,”Currysaid. visitingThunder you’re wearing that purple “Way down the road,

But it was job done on an and gold and broke it as a when we’re reflecting back individual level as he Laker on our careers, we’ll be able strengthened his case as “This historic moment is to be at that level knowing being the greatest basketball so special because we will what it was like to battle at player of all time – a debate never see another LeBron thehighestlevel.” that will rumble on for some James.” Durant added: “It’s even time.

James has 7,314 points funny to just even say that,

A number of sports stars across five seasons with the coming from where you and wider global figures Lakers, having previously have come from, how hard have paid tribute to James, scored 23,119 in 859 games yougrindedforthislong. who now has 38,390 career for the Cleveland Cavaliers “It’s been an inspiration points to go with the four and 7,919 in 294 for the since day one. Much love NBA titles won with three MiamiHeat. and keep setting the bar differentteams. NBA commissioner high.”

Part of the action in the ongoing Rock Futsal Championship at the National Gymnasium.

Future Stars, Bent St, Gold is Money advance

It was a busy Tuesday evening at the for Gold is Money in their 4-2 over National Gymnasium, where the inaugural Albouystown. RockFutsalChampionshipistakingplace. Future Stars held on for a 3 – 2 win over

When the dust was settled, Future Stars, Mocha.Theteamfinishingsecond-placewill Bent Street and Gold is Money moved one pocket $250,000, third place $150,000 and shot closer to staking claim to the fourthplace$100,000. tournament’s$500,000first-placeprize. One motorcycle will be given to the Bent Street brushed aside Vryheid’s Lust tournament’s MVP, as well one lucky patron 3-1,whileDarrenBenjaminnettedahat-trick onthefinalnightofthechampionship.

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China reaffirms commitment to GTTA

Ch e n X i l a i , On this premise, the bilateral engagement Deputy Chief at GTTA said both sides betweenthetwonations.

the Embassy of discussed the continued A review of some the People’s Republic of partnership concerning initiatives including China, invited the Guyana overseas and local training equipment donations to the Table Tennis Association stints for players at all levels national programme and the (GTTA)todiscusstheshared at High Yield Training school programmes in vision and continued centresinChinain2023. partnership with the partnership between the Training opportunities Ministry of Education was People’s Republic of China for officials and High-level presented by the GTTA and the custodians of table coaches to visit Guyana to President. tennislocally work with our national Munroe said Minister of T h e G T T A w a s teams, technical support and E d u c a t i o n , P r i y a represented by president combined efforts on projects Manickchand, is keen on Godfrey Munroe, Deidre which will be geared to having China’s support for EdghillandIshakaJackman. impact the livelihood of expanding the national table

According to a release members of communities tennisschoolsprojectas part fromtheGTTA,Chenshared werealsodiscussed. oftheMinistry’splantohave a quote which forms part of Several other initiatives each student exiting the theChinesephilosophy“Itis were discussed, including a schools’systemexposedand joyful to play alone but it’s goodwill tournament similar oriented to sports language more joyful to play with to the one held last year to and playing one musical others.” celebrate 50 years of instrument.

Motie gives Zimbabwe a scare but debutant Tafadzwa Tsiga helps salvage draw

SportsMax - Gudakesh Blackwood together with the score at 14 but Motie took four wickets and Together they mounted a Innocent Kaia and Chamu Roston Chase two as the stand of 107 that was broken Chibhabha resisted sternly West Indies pushed for whenMasakadzaheldontoa taking the score to 61 when victory but Zimbabwe held return catch off his own Kaia got out caught by on for a draw in the firstTest bowlingtodismissReiferfor Brathwaite off Motie’s inBulawayoyesterday 58. bowlingfor24.

Chasing an improbable He picked up his fourth C h a s e d i s m i s s e d 272 for victory, Zimbabwe wicket of the match when he Chibhabha for 31 with the closed on 134-6, still 138 had Blackwood caught score at 83 and shortly after runs away but with only four behind for 57 to end with Motie claimed Craig Irvine second-innings wickets figuresof3-71. for17withnoadditiontothe remaining. Evans picked up his score as Zimbabwe slipped

West Indies had resumed second wicket when he had to83-4. on 21-0 with the West Indies Roston Chase caught behind Zimbabwe now required Captain Kriagg Brathwaite for 14 after which Kyle another rescue act from first on 11 and Tagenarine Mayers and Joshua Da Silva innings century maker Gary Chanderpaulon10. addedanother23runsbefore Ballance.

The pair would add only thedeclarationcame. However, Ballance had another 11 runs before Brad Mayers remained made only 18 when Chase Evans broke the partnership unbeatenon17andDaSilva, had him caught behind to bowlingChanderpaulfor15. nine. have Zimbabwe in trouble at

Brathwaite was trapped Evanstook2-41. 119-5. It was soon 120-6 l b w b y We l l i n g t o n Zimbabwe lost an early when Motie trapped Brad Masakadza for 25 which wicket when Motie got Evansforaduck. brought Reifer and Tanunurwa Makoni for nine

(Continued on page 21)

From left: Deidre Edghill, Godfrey Munroe, Chen Xilai and Ishaka Jackman following their meeting at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

Athanaze erupts against Harpy Eagles

- Pride, Red Force end Day one positively

Captain of the Windward Island Volcanoes, Alick Athanaze, became the latest centurion in the 2023 edition of the West Indies Championship, when his side commenced their second round encounter against the Guyana Harpy Eagles yesterday at Grenada’s National Cricket StadiuminSt.George’s.

His unbeaten knock piloted Volcanoes to a defiant 292 – 8 at stumps, as the side won the toss and optedtotakefirststrike.

In the day’s morning session, Volcanoes found th inthe24 over However, with 11.1 overs themselves under early

The morning session left in the day, rain got the pressure as the Guyanese ended at the completion of finalsay paceattackstruckthreetimes th the 26 over with Volcanoes Permaul, Sinclair and inside the opening eight on 116 – 4. Athanaze had 36 Beatonallendedthedaywith overs. on the board while Justin two wickets each while

Jerlani Robinson (4) was Greaves accumulated just Smith and Shamar Joseph the first to depart when Nial six. pickeduponeeach. Smith broke his edge on the

In the second session, the Other matches… firstdeliveryofthethirdover eventual centurion was able Over in Antigua, rain for an easy catch to Tevin to pass the half century mark intervened in both matches Imlach at second slip; d on his 83 delivery and and took a lot of overs out of Volcanoeswere10–1. featured in an 89-run theday

Kaveem Hodge was the partnership with Greaves At the SirVivian Richard newbatsmantojointheother (21), who lost his wicket to Cricket Stadium in North opener, Kimani Melius (2), Shamar Joseph with the Sound, Trinidad and Tobago and add just ten runs before scoreon191. Red Force reached 151 – 3 the latter departed to make it

Nine runs later, Tevyn from 50.1 overs at stumps. 21 - 2. Melius was caught at Walcott (4) became Darren Bravo was on 78 third slip by Kemol Savory Sinclair’s second wicket as while Yannic Cariah had 32 off the bowling of Ronsford Volcanoesreached200–6in when the day’s play came to Beaton in the sixth over, a the 42 over. Athanaze anend. repeat of the dropped chance partnered with Ryan John on At the Coolidge Cricket by Savory from the fourth 99 and was able to Ground (CCG), defending over comfortably reach his champion, Barbados Pride, That marked the arrival maiden first class century on mauled the Jamaica of Athanaze, who lost his th the125 deliveryhefaced. Scorpions batting line-up to partner, Hodge (14), five John played confidently restrict them to 140 in 54.4 runs later compliments of from ball one and added 47 overs. Akeem Jordan, another excellent delivery r u n s t o th e 9 0 - r u n Shemar Springer and from Beaton that had him partnership with Athanaze, Camarie Boyce all claimed caught by the wicketkeeper, which came to an end when three wickets a piece for A n t h o n y B r a m b l e the centurion fell on 141 to Pride.

Volcanoes were then 26 – 3

They trail by 51 runs fromeightovers. Volcanoeswere290–7. going into the second day Athanaze and Sunil

Veerasammy Permaul

Two overs later, the new with 89 -2 from 29 overs on Ambris were tasked with batsman, Kenneth Dember the board. Sheyne Moseley staging a recovery and that (0), became the eighth has 41 while Shamarh they did. The pair crafted a wicket to fall as the score Brooks is at the other end on 76-run partnership that remainedon290. 16. pushed Volcanoes past triple John brought up an even Today’s play is expected figures before the loss of th 50 from 113 balls in the 79 to bowl off from 9:30 hrs to another wicket Kevin over then the rain intervened compensate for the loss of Sinclair was the one to break with Volcanoes on 291 – 8. overs. the partnership when he bowled Ambris for 47, as Volcanoes moved to 102 – 4

Dominoes action set for Sunday at Transport SC

MaliandFlashtwoinoneoutdominoestournamentwill be played on Sunday at Transport Sports Club starting at 14:00hrs.

Entrance fee is $15,000 and the winning team will take home $150,000, runner up $100,000 and third place $50,000.

Darren Bravo Alick Athanaze

MediPharm partners with Jefford Classic Mile

Toney, Arjune to represent GBF at CBC/CONCENCABA Assembly in Miami

Gu y a n a B a s k e t b a l l

F e d e r a t i o n

(GBF) Vice President Rawle Toney and Technical Director Sileena Arjune will represent Guyana in Miami March 13 – 14 at two important Assemblies.

MediPharm Managing Director, Shevani Persaud (third, right) makes the presentation to Edison Jefford in the presence of the MediPharm team from left, Mark Shakoor (Marketing Manager), Prem Tulsie (Transport Officer), Ria Dass (Marketing Executive) and Romel Sookram (Inventory and Logistics Officer).

MediPharm Inc , the addition, MediPharm will support and indicated that exclusive authorised also sponsor the first place the event will be historic and r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a n d cash prizes in the Open memorable as all the other distributors for Vitabiotics Category signature events of the Limited and Meyers “We are proud to be renownedathleticsbrand. Organics Private Limited in associated with the Jefford “The kind of atmosphere Guyana, announced its Classic. We believe in what and competition that we partnership yesterday with this brand has done for local provideinathleticsissecond the Jefford Classic Mile athletes and as such we tononeinGuyana.Ourtrack scheduled for March 12 at believe this partnership is record speaks for itself. We theNationalParkCircuit. very important. We are very will continue to combine Witharangeofwellover serious about supporting our athletics and entertainment 50 various products, the localathletesandthisevent,” at this event. We will also company announced that it the Managing Director at ensure that athletes have the will be sponsoring the event MediPharm, Shevani righttobecalledthebestone under the renowned Persaud stated at a simple milers in Guyana while Wellman and Wellwoman presentation ceremony giving the corporate brands The top three yesterday community,civilsocietyand finishers from each category Founder of the Jefford otherpatronstheopportunity will benefit from hampers of Classic, Edison Jefford towatchthemperform,” assorted products In thankedMediPharmfortheir (Continued on page 21)

Sileena Arjune – GBF Technical Director

On Monday, March 13 the two will be part of the Caribbean Basketball assist National Federations’ Confederation (CBC) developmentofbasketballin Assembly, while on the their countries by helping following day, the duo will them develop a sustainable be delegates at the Central strategicfocus. American and Caribbean

Rawle Toney – GBF Vice President

Basketball Confederation release,whileoneofToney’s Strategy and Planning ( C O N C E N C A B A ) purposes at the Assembly programme is one of the Assembly will be as a voting delegate initiatives undertaken by

T h e F I B A P L U S

Both the CBC and for the two-day event, FIBA as part of its 2019- CONCENCABA will hold Arjune will attend the FIBA 2023 strategy to “Empower elections to decide on a new PlusWorkShop. National Federations” to executive committee to Arjune will join other reachtheirfullpotential.The govern the game of Technical Directors from GBF held its elections on basketball in their respective National Federations Sunday,January29,where regions. affiliated with FIBA at the (Continued on page 21)

According to a GBF programme designed to